Tascam ATR-80 pics & specs

[KPI]

Does anyone have any good pics and the spec sheet for an ATR-80 24 track 2 inch?

[KPI]

what started out as "just looking" at a 424mkIII, talking about 388 & 688's has resulted in me purchasing an ATR-80.

I couldn't help myself. Anyway, I need some help. When the thing arrives (it is being shipped from Europe; it weighs over 200 kilos!), what else will I need to go with it to get started recording? I know this much:

- The unit is working
- It has the autolocater

Apart from that, what else do I need? Is it as simple as plugging in multiple mics and hitting record? what do I need to plug it into to hear the playback?

[Chris Shaeffer]

Wow. Congratulations. I suggest you put it next to the washing machine and dryer to *really* confuse people.

So you've got another major expense coming up to use it- do you have a mixing board, already? You'll want at least a 24 channel mixing board, and I'd suggest getting a larger one if you can- you'd be surprised how often a few extra channels comes in handy. How about monitors- or at least a stereo- to listen to? Plus all the cables to go back and forth between the ATR-80 and the mixer. Sorry if these are really simple answers, I'm just not sure what your level of experience is.

Does the machine come with a manual? If not, you may want to spend some time & money and see if you can find one. As simple and intuitive as analog is, the machine itself has LOTS of adjustments, features, and requirements that might not be obvious. Sure, you can plug it in and go and do OK for a while, but a manual will help you get the most out of your new baby while keeping it in good shape.

How about a cleaning and demagnitizing kit? The tape heads and path needs *regular* cleaning or they'll degrade pretty fast. Have to degauss them every so often, too. I just picked up one of these kits from an Ebay store:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

That'll give you what you need to get started- I'm assuming since you mentioned mics that you already have some. A role or 2 of tape, too- think that's a 30 ips (inch per second) machine so a standard role of 2500 feet is going to give you a bit less than 17 minutes of recording.

There's more- much more- but I'm not sure what your experience is and don't want to talk too much over or under you. Let us know how what I just wrote hits you and we'll talk more when I have a better feel for what needs to come next.

That's pretty exciting. I was just oogling one of those machies on Ebay and wondering if there are going to be any left by the time I can afford one.

Take care,
Chris

[KPI]

I don't have a 24 channel mixing board, could you recommend/talk about a tascam (or other brand equivalent)?

I have figured out I can hook it up to my monitors, so playback will be ok.

Apparently, the manual is not there, does anyone have it in PDF format?

What is the skinny on the 2 inch tape? what are the brands and product codes I should be looking for.

At the moment I have around 14 XLR mics, a mixture of crown and shure.

Anyway, any additional detail you could offer would be good. No detail is too trivial. I have been using n-track a lot on the computer, but as I said started thinking about buying a 424mkIII. In the end I couldn't help myself and got the ATR-80.

I wouldnt worry too much about missing out on one of these things. After only three days of sniffing around, I found 4 available for sale in various places around the world.

[Track Rat]

You're going to be buying a LOT of stuff before you'll be listening to any playback, let alone record. The mixer will be first on that list. You'll need that to sum those 24 tracks to 2 channels. And to get into that recorder you'll need mic preamps. You can't just plug a mic directly into a tape machine. A decent mixer will have those onboard. Then you'll need something to mix TO. But that's another post .

[Track Rat]

Something like this works for me.
http://homerecording.com/bbs/attachm...chmentid=11856

[KPI]

what kind of mixer do you recommend?

[Track Rat]

What I have there is a M-3500 that I use with a HD24. I'd recommend a console that has like features. A minmum of 24 channels but with in line monitoring. That gives you essentially 24 tape returns and 24 line level inputs as well as the Aux returns. PLENTY of inputs for effects or what ever. You're also going to want some patch bays to tie all of this stuff together.

[KPI]

awesome, i'll check out the M3500. while it definately was an impulse purchase the ATR-80, i am definately grooving on the idea of 24 track recording on a 24 channel mixer. Have not yet told the girlfriend, might stir her up to come home and see all this massive kit setup in the lounge room.

What kind of 2" tape should I be looking at?

[Track Rat]

This would fill the bill nicely.
http://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=171308

[Good Friend]

What is it that you need 24 tracks for that its worth sacrificing track width? If i had the money to blow on overseas shipping and all that id (personally) rather have a 1 inch 8 track. Dont get me wrong, i am not saying that this tape recorder is a piece of junk by any means, i happen to think any recorder will work fine, im just wondering why everyone is so psyched on 24 tracks vs better sound. Especially now that people are transferring things to computer from tape. People seem to like having a dedicated track for every inch of the drumkit i guess.

[KPI]

Does Tascam make a 1 inch 8 track?

[A Reel Person]

...................

[KPI]

Originally Posted by Good Friend

What is it that you need 24 tracks for that its worth sacrificing track width? If i had the money to blow on overseas shipping and all that id (personally) rather have a 1 inch 8 track. Dont get me wrong, i am not saying that this tape recorder is a piece of junk by any means, i happen to think any recorder will work fine, im just wondering why everyone is so psyched on 24 tracks vs better sound. Especially now that people are transferring things to computer from tape. People seem to like having a dedicated track for every inch of the drumkit i guess.

I suppose that 8 tracks on 1" or 16 tracks on 2", but How much loss of quality in sound is there between a 2" 16 & 2" 24 track?, I mean how is the sound "better"

[KPI]

what model is pictured in the background of this pic, looks like a 32 track 2 inch...

http://www.broadcaststore.com/images...ure/9893_1.jpg

[Track Rat]

One might be a DASH (Digital Audio Stationary Head) machine.

[A Reel Person]

Tascam made the ATR-80 is a 24-track and 32-track version. The machine in the back of the photo is the ATR-80/32, a fully analog 2"-32-track machine.

[KPI]

what is the difference between a M3500 & M3700. Is there a list of tascam 24/32 track mixers anywhere?

[A Reel Person]

..........

[A Reel Person]

...............

[A Reel Person]

.............

[KPI]

Oh I can't wait for this baby to arrive. I hope the cargo ship it is currently on don't sink!

[A Reel Person]

you could've had that beauty above, for appx. $2500, if you could have picked it up in New York! If the same deal had dropped out of LA, I'd have been on it!

Nonetheless,... best of luck!! Pls tell us how it is after arrival!

[Seeker of Rock]

Originally Posted by Good Friend

What is it that you need 24 tracks for that its worth sacrificing track width? If i had the money to blow on overseas shipping and all that id (personally) rather have a 1 inch 8 track. Dont get me wrong, i am not saying that this tape recorder is a piece of junk by any means, i happen to think any recorder will work fine, im just wondering why everyone is so psyched on 24 tracks vs better sound. Especially now that people are transferring things to computer from tape. People seem to like having a dedicated track for every inch of the drumkit i guess.

Wouldn't this be an easy solution?....Set up your game plan before you record as far as what instruments will be assigned to which tracks. If the number of tracks needed is less than 24, just send your signal to tracks 1 and 2, 3 and 4, etc., instead of just track 1, of instruments you want to have a thicker presence at mixdown. You get the same tape width if you know you won't be needing the other tracks. When mixing, assign the duplicated tracks to a single bus for easy control with a single fader to manipulate the levels.

[KPI]

Originally Posted by A Reel Person

you could've had that beauty above, for appx. $2500, if you could have picked it up in New York! If the same deal had dropped out of LA, I'd have been on it!

Nonetheless,... best of luck!! Pls tell us how it is after arrival!

I saw that ATR that went on ebay for a couple of grand... aye carumba it cost that much for me to ship mine.